Marie and Sue both created their own version of the four patch kaleidoscope quilt. Sue used 4 panels and Marie used yardage with 4 repeats. Sue followed a colourwash theme of assembly and Marie sashed her vibrant beauty in black. You can see Maries quilt in the background, Sues flimsy was on display but no pic. - What was the pickie snapper thinking??
Sue and Marie gave a demo on how to assemble the four pattern repeats - homework really - in readiness for next February.
You must have 4 pattern repeats, either yardage such as being shown here by Marie and Sue, or 4 identical panels.
If using yardage, you need large prints for your repeats.
The girls also advised go for the colour, forget the design. So if you have yardage that you love the overall colours of but it might be a little dated in design, then perfect - no shopping necessary.
Sue pointed out a nifty short cut to identifying repeats, the colour dots in the selvedge are not only to show all the dyes used, but are printed on each pattern repeat (does that make sense?) so count 4 sets of colour dots along the selvedge and you will have 4 repeats.
After pressing her 4 panels to a beautiful crisp finish, not, (Sue told us to imagine that bit) she then took the tinsiest little pair of embroidery scissors in hand to cut the 4 panels apart...
Sue and Maries directions are: lay the 4 pressed pattern repeats directly on top of each other, all right side up, pattern matching.
Starting in the middle of your pattern, choose an easily defined part of the design, Sue choose the point where one petal joined another petal, X marks the spot on the pic.
Taking a threaded needle, and starting in the center of your fabric pile, pass the needle through the chosen spot, fold the top repeat over and pass the needle individually through the second, third and forth pieces of fabric AT THE EXACT SAME SPOT. (As shown in the above pic under the X) - bring the needle back through the fabrics and form a small back stitch, this is to secure the fabrics for when you cut them later - (in February) - re-smooth your fabrics and continue to work across your fabric repeats at approx 2" intervals, Sue says you can draw your thread but you must do the little back stitches, otherwise, disaster is guaranteed.
Marie told us that she cut her fabric vertically down the center (the fold line) and only used the 4 pattern repeats from half of her yardage, the other side of the length of yardage she used to border her blocks, as you can tell, Maries pattern repeat was large.
Not even gonna talk about the Christmas Fair, its just a breath away but a breath after the fair is our Christmas Party, a lunch at our fave Chancellor Park venu. Sheila has suggested that the swap/gift we make follow our current Jeans/Denim theme. We are asked to create either a mug rug or a coaster. Mug rugs generally are rectangular with space for a mug and a snack. Coasters...well they are coasters but it would be nice to have room for a little bickie by the mug.
Wendy had some lovely coasters to share with us, she even gave a simple demo, they are 5.5" square so plenty of room for a mug and a bickie, best of all, if you are pushed for time, Wendy is willing to sell you one of the beauties she had with her today. They come with an added bonus, that over/under construction? - perfect to thread your stemed wine glass into the coaster! instant decoration and identification of your wine and the fabric soaks up all the condensation. Just the ants pants for drinkies by the pool, with a plackie glass of course!
Marcia coincidentally was working on christmas coasters and it was agreed that the pattern would transition beautifully to a denium face with a lighter backing/facing fabric.
Marcia is more than happy to share the pattern with anyone interested.
Finally, a couple of pics from the Gympie Rotary Quilt and Craft Spectacular.
The first one to share is Wendy's Medallion Halo (gosh, hope that is remembered correctly)
